Enhancement of fetal lung maturity by intra-amniotic administration of thyroid hormone.

Following preliminary results in animal studies demonstrating that thyroxine (T4) injected directly into the fetus or the amniotic sac is capable of enhancing fetal lung maturity, a trial of thyroxine treatment in mean was carried out. Two hundred micrograms of T4 were injected intra-amniotically in eight women with high-risk pregnancies in which premature delivery was inevitable or indicated. Fetal lung maturity was evaluated by a recently developed, accurate, and rapid method using the microviscosity value epsilon (this being the linear expression of the polarization value P) of the lipid assembly of the amniotic fluid as a parameter of the surfactant content.

[Arteriovenous aneurysm of the left internal thoracic artery with hypertrophy of the left upper limb (author's transl)].

Case report on a 5 years old boy suffering from a congenital arteriovenous fistula of the left internal thoracic artery. At the age of 9 months hypertrophy of the left arm combined with dilated veins in this area developed. Diagnosis was made by clinical examination together with a density in the left upper chest on x-ray and was confirmed by phlebography and thoracic aortography.

Papanicolaou testing and hysterectomy prevalence in low-income communities: a survey in Los Angeles County.

A survey of the prevalence of Papanicolaou (Pap) testing and of hysterectomy and a feasibility study were conducted in low-income communities with high rates of cervical cancer, identified by an analysis of mortality and case rates. Although about 90% of the women reported having had a Pap regular testing. For example, in the 5 years preceding the study (1971--75), about a quarter of the women had been tested only once and about a third not at all.

[The oculo-oto-vertebral syndrome (author's transl)].

A new case of a combined malformation of the ear (anotia), eye (anophthalmia) and vertebral colum is presented. The distinction from the Goldenhar Syndrome and possible embryologic causes are discussed.

"Pap" testing and hysterectomy prevalence: a survey of communities with high and low cervical cancer rates.

There is an inverse relation between cervical cancer rates and income in Los Angeles County communities, and there is a positive association between level of Papanicolaou (Pap) testing and income. Ethnic differences in cervical cancer rates and Pap testing are dependent on income. The relatively high rate of cervical cancer and low level of systematic screening in low income communities suggest that a community trial to assess the value of cytologic screening in reducing cervical cancer rates is feasible.

Possible phenylethylmalondiamide (PEMA) intoxication.

We have encountered a case of apparent intoxication with primidone (Mysoline) in a patient with severe renal impairment. Of interest were high serum levels of phenylethyl-malondiamide (PEMA), a metabolite of primidone.

Measuring barbiturates, sedatives, and anticonvulsants in serum by gas-liquid chromatography.

We describe a method for measuring therapeutic and overdose levels of barbiturate, sedative, and anticonvulsant drugs in serum by gas-liquid chromatography (GLC). This method is a unique combination of techniques including a simple extraction, cochromatography of the specimen with authentic carrier drugs, and the use of multiple dissimilar gas chromatographic columns. In this way, a large number of drugs may be identified and quantitated without confusion.

The iron-sulfur environment in rubredoxin.

The atomic environment around the iron site in the nonheme iron sulfur protein rubredoxin was studied by the extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) technique. Within experimental error, the Fe-S bonds in oxidized Clostridium pasteurianum rubredoxin are the same as in the analogue anion [Fe(S2-o-xyl)2]-synthesized by Holm. The average Fe-S bond length is 2.

Steroid contraceptive use and cervical dysplasia: increased risk of progression.

In a prospective study of women with dysplasia of the cervix, there was an increase in severity of dysplasia and of conversion to cancer in situ in users of the contraceptive pill compared with users of other contraceptive methods. There was a delay in this adverse response. Nonreversal of dysplasia within the first 6 months of pill use is predictive of progression after prolonged exposure.

A new method for assessment of fetal lung maturity.

A new method for evaluation of fetal lung maturity in utero is described. The method is based on the fluorescence polarization (P) of the lipids in the amniotic fluid after labelling with a special dye. Tests performed with 49 amniotic fluid samples drawn from 33 pregnancies clearly demonstrated a decrease in P during gestation which correlated with the increase in the lecithin/sphingomyelin ratio (L/S) in the fluid.

Evaluation of Papanicolaou smear and effect of sample biopsy in follow-up of cervical dysplasia.

In a prospective study of women with dysplasia, a superficial sampling biopsy of the cervix was carried out as a periodic check of the cytological findings. The relationship of smear and biopsy results was evaluated, as well as the effect of the biopsy procedure on the subsequent course of dysplasia. We found sufficiently close agreement between smear and biopsy results to conclude that smears and biopsies measure similar aspects of dysplasia.

Studies on the regulation of the three enzymes of the Leloir pathway in cultured mammalian cells. I. Effect of substitution of galactose for glucose as the sole hexose in the medium in human diploid cell strains and in a rat hepatoma line.

In human diploid cell strains, the substitution of galactose for glucose as the sole hexose in the medium had no measurable effect on the specific activity of the cell protein for any of the three enzymes of the Leloir pathway. These enzymes are galactokinase, alpha-D-galactose-1-phosphate: UDP glucose uridyl transferase and UDP galactose 4-epimerase. A cell strain from a patient with galactosemia had no detectable activity for the transferase.

Studies on the regulation of the three enzymes of the Leloir pathway in cultured mammalian cells. II. A search for quantitative interrelationships between the three enzyme activities.

Studies on a normal human diploid cell strain revealed that the specific activity of the cell protein, for each of the three enzymes of the Leloir pathway, changed significantly as the cells grew. The kinetics of change in specific activity varied according to the enzyme being studied, and the kinetics for each enzyme varied from experiment to experiment. Within each experiment, there was no consistent correlation between specific activity for any one enzyme and specific activity for the other two.